Ontario Plans $17B Strategy for 1.5M New Homes by 2031

A series of reports and initiatives across North America and the UK highlight urgent housing needs and construction challenges. In Ontario, a collaborative report by United Way Greater Toronto and the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada emphasizes the need for 1.5 million new homes by 2031, with a focus on sustainable, co-op, and non-profit housing solutions to address affordable housing shortages and stalled construction projects. Similarly, a new report from United Way Greater Toronto projects that Canada will require 805,000 affordable housing units by 2035 to meet growing demand. In the UK, the government aims to recruit 100,000 additional construction workers annually by 2029 to overcome a skills crisis that threatens housing development, though industry leaders stress the need for clear strategies and greater inclusion of small builders. Locally, developments such as the 1,150-home Chilton Woods project in Suffolk are progressing with plans for mixed housing types and community amenities, while Auburn, Maine, is facing a shortfall of 1,300 homes needed by 2030 to support economic growth and workforce needs, reflecting broader national housing deficits. These efforts collectively underscore the critical need for coordinated solutions involving government, industry, and community stakeholders to meet ambitious housing targets and address affordability challenges.